Sofa bed



C. HULTGREN SOFA BED Filed oct.

Aug. 12 1924.

I5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 12 1924. 1,504,762

c. HULTGREN SOFA BED Filed 001'.. 2l, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v l g IIIHII Y u; mms# Aug. 12 1924. X c. HULTGREN SOFA BED Filed Oct. 2l, 1921 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 5 yezzr' Zes Lieven,

Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES HULTGREN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO S. KARPEN @cl BROS., 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINA.'

, SOFA BED.

Application tiled October 21, 1921. Serial No. 509,374.

' To all whom it may concern: f

Be it known that I, CHARLEs HUUrGREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sofa Beds, of which the following is a specification..

The present invention relates particularly to sofa beds of the type in which the cushions of the sofa are adapted to be spread on the bed-sections in the extended condition of the structure to serve as a mattress for the bed. The invention is in the nature of a modification of or improvement upon the invention set forth in my application Serial Number 444,724, filed February 14, 1921. f

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a construction in which the bedsections are exposed at a suitable height when the structure is in bed form, and in which the bed-sections are staunchly supported when the structure is in either the bed form or the sofa form.

The invention is illustrated, in its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 represents a broken vertical sectional view of the structure in extended condition,'the section being taken parallel with and just inside of one of the end-standards of the main frame; Fig. 2, a similar sectional view, but showing the structure in folded or sofa form; Fig. 3, a broken sectiontaken parallel with the section shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a broken plan section, taken as indicated at line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a

broken vertical seiztion taken as indicated atline 6-6 of Figs. 1 and 4; Fig. 7, a broken perspective'view of one of the levers employed; and Fig. 8, a broken sectional View taken as indicated at line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment shown, A represents a main frame provided with a back A', endstandards or arms A2, rear connecting members A3, and a front connecting member A4, these connecting members extending longitudinally of the main frame and serving to securely connect the end-standards together; B, a front bed-section which in the folded condition of the structure is superposed over the rear section and becomes the seat-portion on which the cushions are's11p ported; C, a rear bed-section which is adapted to be lowered in the frame when the structure is'converted to sofa form; B', a front mattress section; C', a rear mattress 'section supported by the bed-section C, the section C4 being adapted to fold forwardly upon the section B aboutA the point or line 1; preparatory to converting the structure to sofa form; pairs of parallel levers fulcrumed on bars employed, each pair comprising a front lever D and a rear lever D', these levers being of general-T form, but having the head of the T- setto form an acute angle with 'the stem, or long arm; a supporting `bar 4E permanently secured to the inner surface of each of the end-standards A2, said supporting bars E serving to carry the pivots or fulcrums. of the levers; F, counterprising end-standards which are rigidly connected at their rear portions by the connecting 'members A3 and at their front lower portions b the connecting member A4. Thus, kthe rame may be built very Substantially.

The frames of the bed-sections B and C are similar in construction. The section B is shown equipped with upholstered springs 2 which support a light frame 2 composed of rods suitably connected with the springs in any desirable manner. The lower portions or small ends of the springs are themselves supported on a light 'frame 2" composed of rods, as shown in Fig. 4. Similarly, the bed-section C is equipped with upholstered springs 3 which have mounted. thereon a light frame 3", the lower ends of the springs being supported on a light frame 3b constructed of rods which are suitably connected with the frame C.

The openwork light frames 29 and 3 support the mattress-sections B and C.

The front rail of the li ht frame 2 is connected by a sheet of abric 4 with a wooden strip 5 which is secured within the angle 6 which constitutes the front member of the frame of the front bed-section B. The front edge of the front mattress section B is provided with a Hap -7 which is sewed to the fabric 4. It willbe understood that the folding mattress sections B and C may be encased in an upholstering fabric of any suitable design, so as to serve as cushions for the sofa.

It will be understood that the leve-rs D and D are duplicated at the two ends of the sofa, and that two of the supporting plates E are employed as mountings for the levers. Describing the' structure in .the extended condition, each lever D is of general T form, having a forwardly and upwardly extending long arm 8 and a head portion 9. The head portion 9 forms acute and obtuse angles with relation to the stem portion or long arm 8. The construction is preferably illustrated in Fig. 7. Thus, the head 9 is formed of two short arms 9a and 9* which receive between them the rear end of the long arm 8. The parts are rigidly connected together by the rivets 10. The arm 9al is provided with a pivot perforation l1 which receives the fulcrum pivot 11, this pivot being cariied by the supporting member E. The

arm 9b is provided with a perforation 12 which is pivotally connected by means of a rivet 12a with the front portion of the rear bed-section C. The front end of the arm 8 is pivotally connected, by a rivet 13, with the intermediate portion of the end member of the front bed-section B.

The lever D is of similar construction. It has a long arm 14 and a headr portion 15, the head portion being composed of a short arm 15a and another short arm 15". The extremity of the short arm 15a is connected, by a pivot 16, with the support-ing bar E.v The extremity of the short arm 15" is connected, by a rivet 17 with the 'intermediate portion of the rear bed-section C.

The'front ends of the long'arms 14 of the levers D are rigidly connected with the bar `or rod 18 which is pivotally mounted in the rear end of the frame or front bed-section B. A det-ail is shown in Fig. 8. According to this detail. the rod 18 is equipped at its ends with bushings 19 which are rigidly connected with the rod 18 by means of pins 20.

The bushings 19 are. journalled in the end members of the frame B and the front ends of the long arm 14 of the lever D are riveted rigidly to the ends 'of the rd 18. Thus,

.the rear levers have their front ends rigidly connected with the ends of the rod 18, so that the levers will be sure to turn as a unit in the operation of folding or unfolding the sofa-bed.

The long arms 14 of the rear levers D are extended back of the head 15 of the T, thus providing extensions 14. The front ends of the springs are connected with these extensions and the rear ends of said springs are connected with members 21 secured to the rear lower portion of the main frame of the sofa-bed.

The bars or supporting members E which carry the levers are themselves secured to the end standards of the main frame of the sofabed by suitable means, such as screws 22. The bars are preferably odset in the manner shown in Fig. 4, thus giving room for the heads of the fulcrum pivots 11a and 16 of the levers.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the long arms of the levers D rest on the long arms of the levers D when the structure is in bed form; and the long arms of the levers D rest upon the long arms of the levers. D when the structure is in sofa form. This provides a very staunch construction. It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the method of constructing the levers provides for the long arms of the levers occupying the same vertical plane;

and the proportioning and arrangement of the parts provides for the levers resting upon each other in both the folded and unfolded condition of the structure.

When the structure is in bed-form, the front portion of the front bed-section B is preferably supported on the legs G. Each leg has secured to it near its upper end a U- shaped member 23 which comprises rearwardly-turned ianges 23a and 23b connected by a web 23c (Fig. 5). The flange 23 is rigidly connected with the leg G. The flange 23b is extended upwardly above the plane of the frame of the front bed-section B, thus providing an arm 23d. A rivet 24 extends thru the upper end of the leg G and thru the flange 23". This rivet is pivoted in a slot 25 of an end member of the bed-section B. Springs 26 have their front ends connected with the upper portions of the legs and have their rear ends connected with the rivets 27 secured to the end members of the bed-section B some distance in the rear of the legs. These springs tend to hold the pivots 24 at the rear end of the slot 25.

The links G have their front ends connected, by rivets 28, with the upper ends of the extensions 23". The rear ends of the links G are connected, by rivets 29, with the long arms 8 of the front levers D a short distance in the rear of the pivots 13.

From the descri tion given, it will be understood that the ront bed-section B is earried by the front ends of the long arms of the levers and the rear bed-section is carried by the short arms 9" and 15b of the levers.

`When the structure is to beconverted from bed-form to sofa-form, the mattress-section C is swung upwardly and forwardly and dropped onto the mattress-section B. The operator then lifts on the front edge portion of the front bed-section B. This causes the levers to turn on the fulcrum 11 and 16. The operation of reversing the positions of the levers carries the front bed-section, by a parallel movement, to a position above the rear bed-section, the rear bed-section being at the same time lowered in the main frame of the sofa-bed. The counter-balancing springs F are properly adjusted, so that little effort is required to effect the change from bed-form to sofa-form, or vice versa. In the folding operation, the links G serve to fold t-he legs' G rearwardly and upwardly, so that they will lie within the angle form end members of the frame of the front beds`ection B. The slots 25' permit the necessary movement of the pivots 24 of the legs to enable the folding ope-ration to be accomplished. `When the structure is in the sofaform. the frame of the front bed-section B is below the top edge of the front piece A4 of the main frame, and the spring work 0f the front bed-section (now the seat section) is hidden by the fabric 4. In practice, the parts may be suitably proportioned so that the fabric 4 will substantially contact with the upper edge of the front piece A4 of the main frame when the structure is in sofaform.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the a pended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

That I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main framev equipped with end-standards, a pair4 of levers of genf eral T form having their head portions pivotally connected at one end with said endst-andards, a rear bed-section having its end portions pivotally 'connected with the other ends of the heads of said levers, and a front bed-section having the rear and intermediate portions of its end members pivotally mounted on theslong arms of said levers, said levers being. proportioned and arranged so that. the long arms of the rear pair of levers will rest upon the long arms of the front pair of levers when the structure is in bedform.

2. In a structure of the character4 set forth, the combination of a main frame having end-standards equipped with supporting members, pairs of front and rear levers of general T form having long arms forming acute angles with the head portions of the levers,the head portions of the levers being pivotally connected at one end with said supporting members, a rear bed-section having pivotal connections with the other ends of the head portions of said levers, and a front bed-section having pivotal connections ,With the extremities of the long arms of said levers, the head-portions of said levers inclining forwardly and upwardly in the open'position of the structure.

3. In a struct-ure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame, pairs of front and rear levers of general T form, but having their head portions forming acute angles with their stem portions, the stem portions comprising relatively longy arms, pivotal connections between the head p0rtions at one end thereof and the main frame, a rear bed-section having pivotal connections with said head portions at the other end thereof, and a front bed-section having its rear edge portion and its intermediate portion pivotally'mounted on the extremities of said long arms, said parts being so proportioned and arrangedv that the long arms of the rear levers will rest on the long arms of the front levers when the structure isin bed-form and the long arms of the front levers will be supported on the rear levers when the structure is in sofa-form. 4. In astructure of the :haracte'rI set forth,- the combination of a. main frame, vpairs of .front and rear levers pivotally mounted levers.

5. In a structure of the character set forth,

the combination of a main frame. pairs of front and rear levers pivotallv mounted thereon` a rear bed-section having pivotal connections with the short arms of said levers, a front bed-section having pivotal con-- nections with the free ends of the long arms of the levers, legs equipped with pivots which are movable in slots with which the' front bed-section is provided, springs tending tol hold said pivots at the rear ends of said slots, said legs being provided with extensions above said pivots, and links connecting said extensions with the long arms of the front pair of levers.

CHARLES HU'LTGREN. 

